Surface-ornamenting process and apparatus



Uamr'emer SURFACE ORNAMENTING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1925 jizzmspararzfy or irregular, surface.

Patented Feb. 7, 19 28.

UNITED STATES 1,658,509- PATENT OFFICE.

MURRAY 0. IBEEBE, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WADSWCRTH WATCH CASE 00., OF DAYTON, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY.

. i SURFACE-ORNAMENTING PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

Application filed October This invention relates particularly to a methodv and apparatus for decorating curved, or irregular, surfaces. The invention is applicable, for example, to the production of pictures, or etchings, upon cylindrical surfaces, or other curved, or irregular, \surf aces.

The primary object of the invention is to provide for a direct optical copying of an image, design or character upon a curved, In accordance with the invention, light may be transmitted through a suitable transparency, either a negative or a positive, and reflected from a suitable mirror upon a light-sensitive coating applied-to the-'surface which is to be decorated, or etched. The relation of the mirror to the coated surface is such that the image rays projected upon the mirror will be reflected therefrom and focused upon the sensitized coating with which the object or surface to be decorated is preliminarily provided.

The sensitive coating employed on the surface or object to be decorated maybe any suitable sensitive coating which is adapted to be selectively acted upon or f transformed in accordance with light transmitted thereto through a transparency containing an image. design or character. The coating, for example, may be a li ht-sensitlve varnish comprising a suitabde oil, a

resin, natural or artificial, or a suitable compound of: such materials, a suitable sensitizing agent being added, if required. Halogen-liberating compounds may be employed, if desired, in connection with varnishes of the character referred to. Any other suitable light-sensitive photographic medium may be employed in lieu of the varnish, or varnishes, referred to.

.The invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the improved process and apparatus suitable for the practice thereof.

In .the drawing- Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically an apparatus and method for decorating an exterior cylindrical surface; Fig. 2 represents diagrammatically a method and apparatus for decorating an exterior cylindrical surface and an end surface; and Fig. 3 representsdiagrammatically a method and apparatus for decorating an interior cylindrical surface.

7, 1925. Serial No. 61,039.

designed to reflect the image rays therefrom and focus them upon the sensitive coating;

C designates light-projecting mechanism, ineluding a suitable condenser; D designates a transparency containing the image, design or character which 13 to be copied, which may be either a negative or a positive; and

E designates the lens through which the rays pass, the lens being interposed between the transparency and the. mirror.

In the illustration given in Fig. 1, the n'lirror-suri'ace is designated at 2, being the interior surface of a hollow conical mirror. If desired, the mirror may be of frustoconical shape. At th'e axis of themirror is a central support 3 for the cylindrical article A. The apparatus is so arranged that a light ray 4 striking the mirroris reflected" as indicated by the line 4?. The apparent focusing plane for the image is at the line a, b; and were the ray of light 4 tocontinue through the mirror, the line 4* duced thereby would equal the line 4*. In

other words, the apparatus is so arranged proare not transformed, or reacted, by means of the light may be removed by means of a suitable solvent or developing agent. The reacted portions of the coating may remain. upon. the surface. a 'suitablejdye, or pigment, being applied thereto, 1f desired,,at a desired stage. I

"The picture produced on the cylindrical surfacejmay be used for decorative purposes;

or, if desired, the resistant coating. afforded by the image on the cylindrical surface may be used as a res st during a subsequent etch- 1 ing operation. That is, .the article having the resist thereon may be subjected to the action of a suitable etching agent which will cause the exposed, or partially exposed, portions' of the metal, glass, or other surface to be etched.

In the illustration given in Fig. 1, the conical mirror surface has an included angle of 90, from which it follows that the walls of the mirror form a 45 angle with a plane 210 perpendicular to the axis of the mirror.

In the illustration given in Fig. 2, A. designates an article to be decorated; B, a hollow frusto-conical mirror; C, light-project ing means; D and D transparencies containing pictures, designs or characters which are to be copied on article A; and E a lens through which the rays pass on their way to the mirror. In this illustration, the apparatus is so arranged that animage projected from the transparency D is reflected from the interior of the mirror B and focused on a sensitive coating 1 on the exterior cylindrical surface of the article A; and the rays of light projected through the transparency D are focused on the sensitive coating l on the exterior surface of the end of the article A. The negative D may be of annular form.

In the case of the negative D shown in an Fig. 1, the central portion may be clear so that rayspassing therethrough and striking the coating on the end surface of-the article A will transform the coating on the end surface and render it insoluble in the develppi-ng agent, thus protecting the surface during the subsequent etching operation.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, A

designates a cylindrical article whose interior surface is to be decorated; l3 designates,

a conical mirror having an external reflect: ingsurface which is introduced into the article A C designates the light-projecting device; D designates the negative; and E? designates the lens. In this case the apparatus is so arranged that the rays projected through the negative D strike the exterior mirror surface and are reflected and focused upon the sensitive coating 1 which is applied to the interior surface of the article A Any suitable form of light-projecting mechanism may be employed. If desired,

the dimensions of the mirror with respect to the article to be decorated maybe such that the parts may be moved axially with relation to each other. For example, in Fig. 2, if a long cylindrical-surface. is to be decorated, the article may be shifted with rela- 1 tion to the mirror to enable fresh surfaces to receive the image from the negative. In this way, any number of replicas may be made on the surface which is to be decorated.

ing roll, or an embossing roll, may (be provided with a light-sensitive coating, and light may be projected upon an interior reflecting surface encircling the roll and reflected therefrom into focus upon the lightsensitive coating to cause the coating to be selectively acted upon by the light in accordance with the image, design or character. The coating may then be developed, and the roll may be prepared in any suitable manner for printing or embossing operations. Thus, for example, the roll may be subjected to an etching operation, or it may have applied thereto asuitably resistant lacquer, or the like, applied to the design and capable of taking ink andv producing printing impressions.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should face and reflecting the same therefrom into focus upon said light-sensitive coating, one of said surfaces being encircled by the other one. v 2. The method of applying a design to a roll for printing or embossing purposes which consists in applying a light-sensitive coating to the surface of said roll, and then projecting lightin accordance with an image, design or character upon a reflecting surface encircling said roll and refiectin the light therefrom into focus upon said lightsensitive coating.

3. The'method cylindrical surface and an end surface on an article which comprises applyingto said surfaces a light-sensitive coating, projecting light rays in accordance with an image, design ,or character directly upon the lightsensitive coating applied to said end surface,

and projecting light rays in accordance with an image, design orcharacter upon a reflectmg surface eIlOlI'Clll'lg saidcylmdrical surof decorating an external face and reflecting the light rays therefrom MURRAY 0. Baring; 

